Free Iranian Turkish Political Prisoner Esmaeil Barzegar, In Failing Health Due To Repeated Hunger Strikes
- Target:
- UN, Navi Pillay, Ahmed Shaheed, Ban ki-Moon, OHCHR, EU, Euruopean Parliament, State Department,
- Region:
- Iran
- Website:
- exilesactivist.wordpress.com
Esmaeil Barzegar is an Iranian prisoner of conscience of Turkish ethnicity. He was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison by the notorious Judge Pir-Abasi of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, on charges of anti-national security acts.
Barzegar was arrested by IRGC forces on April, 8, 2011 in Tabriz and was transferred to Evin prison in Tehran. He was incarcerated in solitary confinement for six months.
He is currently on hunger strike to protest the injustice of his sentencing and treatment in prison. It is not his first hunger strike and concern for his health is growing. As of November 16, 2013 he was on his twenty second day of hunger strike.
Each time he was on a hunger strike, the Judiciary officials promised a review of his case but that has not occurred as of yet.
Mr. Barzegar has denied the charges of espionage, separatism and Pan-Turkism that are mentioned in his case.
He considers himself an Iranian believing in the sovereign nation of Iran, and has shown his dedication to the Iranian nation and it’s culture by attending many of the ceremonies commemorating the martyrs. He is also a talented signer and song writer and has written many nationalistic songs such as “Iran, my home”.
WHEREAS: Esmaeil Barzegar has been sentenced to seven years of imprisonment on politically-motivated charges based upon his ethnic background and peaceful cultural activism--thus he is a prisoner of conscience;
AND WHEREAS: The sentencing of Mr. Barzegar by the infamous judge Pir-Abasi of the equally notorious Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of the Islamic Republic is thus illegal under both international human rights covenants (to which Iran is a signatory) as well as Article 24 of the Iranian Consitution;
AND WHEREAS: There is growing concern for the health and well-being of Mr. Barzegar as he has gone on yet another hunger strike to protest the injustices he has suffered;
THEREFORE: We, the undersigned, urge all levels of the international community to bring ALL POSSIBLE pressure to bear upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to IMMEDIATELY and UNCONDTIONALLY release Esmaeil Barzegar from prison, rescind the illegal prison sentence imposed on him and drop all charges against him.
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The Free Iranian Turkish Political Prisoner Esmaeil Barzegar, In Failing Health Due To Repeated Hunger Strikes petition to UN, Navi Pillay, Ahmed Shaheed, Ban ki-Moon, OHCHR, EU, Euruopean Parliament, State Department, was written by John S. Burke and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.